— -- The TAKE with Rick Klein
Do Chuck and Nancy need Donald more than the president needs his Democratic friends?
We're about to find out. The empty chairs flanking President Donald Trump marked the beginning of a shutdown blame game that's likely to play out Trump-style over the next 10 days.
Republican leaders were in the Roosevelt Room with Trump Tuesday. But the president looked as isolated as he may be feeling.
There's an irony in Trump basking in what he called "somewhat of a love-fest" from Republicans on Capitol Hill, only to return to the White House to say he would "absolutely blame the Democrats" if there's a government shutdown.
The Democrats are only as powerful as Republicans let them be.
With the GOP in control of the House and Senate, Republicans can keep government open by keeping their own members in line. It's how they intend to pass the tax bill.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi's decision to boycott negotiations is a Trumpian move, right down to how their own past words can be used to show how they once disapproved of their current actions.
They recognized that the president wasn't in deal-making mode, and called him out on it: "The President said, "I don't see a deal" -- three hours before our meeting," Schumer said.
The White House likes to act as if all the typical political rules still apply to others. The president, meanwhile, has made clear repeatedly there are no rules he believes apply to him.
The RUNDOWN with John Verhovek
Even with an uncertain road ahead of him, Roy Moore is doing what Roy Moore has always done: he's betting on the people of Alabama to carry him over the finish line.
Moore is expected to start a string of campaign appearances today in this final two week push, signaling that his campaign believes the allegations of sexual misconduct and the steady parade of Washington Republicans that have called on him to step aside is not enough to sink his shot at a U.S. Senate seat.
It's also worth noting that the last two weeks will not feature a debate between Moore and his Democratic opponent Doug Jones, even as both candidates have been publicly saying it's time to move on to a discussion of the serious issues facing the people of Alabama.
Thirteen days is a long time in politics — especially in the Trump era, where weeks feel like months and bombshell stories feel like everyday occurrences, and Moore's gamble that he can coast on his reputation in the state is no sure thing, as most polling shows the race remains close.
For now, the Moore campaign seems to believe that time will only benefit them and that, eventually, the firestorm that has erupted from the allegations against their candidate will continue to fade in the minds of voters.
The TIP with John Parkinson
When the Congressional Black Caucus meets at noon today – its regularly scheduled weekly meeting – fallout from sexual misconduct allegations against veteran Rep. John Conyers will likely be on the agenda, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries told reporters.
Jeffries would not say whether the caucus will take action to remove Conyers from the group.
A senior Democratic leadership aide said some members of the CBC met Tuesday night at the Capitol, but it's clear from talking to other members of the caucus that it was an informal meeting as lawmakers returned from Thanksgiving break.
Returning to the Capitol Tuesday night, Rep. Jackie Speier, who has taken an unofficial leadership role in tackling the sexual harassment plague on Capitol Hill, stopped just short – barely – of calling on Conyers to resign.
"I do believe that persons that conduct themselves in a manner that is sexually harassing should not be representing this institution," Speier told reporters in the Capitol Tuesday night.
"There are lots of individuals who have been icons in their industries that have engaged in this kind of behavior and have fallen from their high perch," she added. "That's part of accountability."
According to a senior Democratic aide: "[Leader] Pelosi is continuing to apply steady pressure to this wound in effort to push him out."
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY:
President Trump will deliver a speech on tax reform in Saint Charles, Missouri. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called the speech an "important address to the nation" on the need for tax reforms in the very same state the president first raised the issue at an August event in Springfield. A vote in the Senate on the Republican tax reform bill could happen as early as Thursday after the bill cleared the Senate Budget Committee yesterday. The committee approved the bill on a party-line vote of 12-11 - notably with Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson voting yes to move the bill out of committee. Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republican Leadership hold their weekly news conference after a meeting focused on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Janet Yellen, the Federal Reserve chairwoman, will testify before the Joint Economic Committee in a hearing on the economic outlook of the nation. Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon will campaign with Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore at a rally on December 5th, Moore's chief campaign strategist Dean Young confirmed to ABC News. House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, and Marc Short, Trump's White House Director of Legislative Affairs, are guests on ABC News' Powerhouse Politics podcast.UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, along with counterparts from Japan and the Republic of Korea, have requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting to be held at 4:30 pm EST in response to North Korea's most recent intercontinental ballistic missile test. QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I will only tell you that we will take care of it." - President Trump addressing the media after it was revealed North Korea completed their most successful ICBM test to date.
NEED TO READ
New North Korean ICBM launch was country's highest ever. North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into space earlier today, reaching an altitude of 2,800 miles, making it the highest North Korean missile test to date, two U.S. officials confirmed. (Luis Martinez, Elizabeth McLaughlin and Meghan Keneally) http://abcn.ws/2AisxbJ Another former staffer accuses Rep. John Conyers of sexual misconduct. The veteran congressman is facing a fresh round of sexual misconduct allegations after a former staffer said he made unwanted sexual advances toward her. (Karma Allen and Kate Hodgson) http://abcn.ws/2AcTjEx Democratic leaders cancel planned meeting with Trump after tweet slamming them. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi pulled out of a planned meeting after the president tweeted that he doesn't "see a deal" will be reached with Dems on government funding — raising the specter for a potential government shutdown in December. (Jordyn Phelps) http://abcn.ws/2Aem3gv Meet the Marine colonel who's looking to turn Alabama Senate race on its head: 'This is now a three-way gunfight.' As the race has become consumed with sexual misconduct allegations against Roy Moore, Retired Marine Col. Lee Busby launched his campaign hoping to capitalize on voters' dissatisfaction with the choices on the ballot. (John Verhovek) http://abcn.ws/2j1bymX Judge's ruling leaves Trump's pick at helm of CFPB. A federal judge on Tuesday ruled in favor of President Donald Trump in the fight over who has the legal right to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). While the ruling is a win for Trump and his pick to lead the bureau, Mick Mulvaney, it's unlikely to be the final word in the bureaucratic dispute. (Geneva Sands) http://abcn.ws/2BvVbGA Trump predicts success of Senate tax plan as budget committee clears path for vote. President Donald Trump evaluated Tuesday the prospects of the Senate passing the Republican's long-desired tax overhaul, predicting a victory for the Republican-backed Senate bill and lambasting Democrats for being "all talk." (Mary Bruce, Mariam Khan, Ali Rogin and Adam Kelsey) http://abcn.ws/2AdmZ4i Republican Senate tax plan hits lower incomes the hardest, increases deficit $1.4 trillion: CBO. People with incomes less than $30,000 would ostensibly pay more in taxes when compared to the benefits they receive under the bill, the CBO found, due in part to reduced government outlays to support health care for such low-income individuals. (Adam Kelsey) http://abcn.ws/2BlbS6G House panel taking up bill allowing concealed carry across state lines. The bill from Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina, would allow gun owners with concealed carry permits from one state to carry their firearms in another, while still following local and state regulations. (Benjamin Siegel) http://abcn.ws/2Ad27u5 Why Republicans are leaving the House — And who might be next. Republicans are retiring from the House in numbers notably higher than usual. FiveThirtyEight is reporting the trend is measurable, and can be analyzed to predict future legislative departures. http://53eig.ht/BuWL3U Secretary Rex Tillerson takes offense at claims of hollowing out State Department. The New York Times is reporting on remarks made by Tillerson at the Woodrow Wilson International Center that indicated his irritation at speculation he's attempting to render the State Department ineffective, as he advocates for cutting a third of the organization's budget. http://nyti.ms/2AHumlP The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead. Please check back tomorrow for the latest.